[单项选择]

When families gather for Christmas dinner, some will stick to formal traditions dating back to Grandma’s generation. Their tables will be set with the good dishes and silver, and the dress code will be Sunday-best. But in many other homes, this china-and-silver elegance has given way to a stoneware (粗陶) -and-stainless informality, with dresses assuming an equally casual-Friday look. For hosts and guests, the change means greater simplicity and comfort. For makers of fine china in Britain, it spells economic hard times.
Last week Royal Doulton, the largest employer in Stoke-on-Trent, announced that it is eliminating 1,000 jobs-- one-fifth of its total workforce. That brings to more than 4,000 the number of positions lost in 18 months in the pottery (陶瓷) region. Wedgwood and other pottery factories made cuts earlier.
Although a strong pound and weak markets in Asia play a role in the downsizing, the layoffs in Stoke have their roots in earthshaking social shif
A. bankruptcy of fine china manufacturers
B. shrinking of the pottery industry
C. restructuring of large enterprises
D. economic recession in Great Britain

[单项选择]

When families gather for Christmas dinner, some will stick to formal traditions dating back to Grandma’s generation. Their tables will be set with the good dishes and silver, and the dress code will be Sunday-best. But in many other homes, this china-and-silver elegance has given way to a stoneware (粗陶) -and-stainless informality, with dresses assuming an equally casual-Friday look. For hosts and guests, the change means greater simplicity and comfort. For makers of fine china in Britain, it spells economic hard times.
Last week Royal Doulton, the largest employer in Stoke-on-Trent, announced that it is eliminating 1,000 jobs-- one-fifth of its total workforce. That brings to more than 4,000 the number of positions lost in 18 months in the pottery (陶瓷) region. Wedgwood and other pottery factories made cuts earlier.
Although a strong pound and weak markets in Asia play a role in the downsizing, the layoffs in Stoke have their roots in earthshaking social shif
A. Family members need more time to relax.
B. Busy schedules leave people no time for formality.
C. People want to practice economy in times of scarcity.
D. Young people won't follow the etiquette of the older generation

[单项选择]We ______our dinner when a policeman came to the door.
A. just had
B. have just had
C. just have had
D. had just had

[单项选择]We ______ our dinner when a neighbor came to our house.
A. had just had
B. have just had
C. just had
D. just have had

[单项选择]Wang (guest): That was a delicious dinner. Mrs. Willis (hostess): ______. Would you like to go to the living room now It's more comfortable there.

[单项选择]What will happen when some people finally reach the point of marriage according to the students
A. True love dies.
B. Make a self sacrificial commitment.
C. Get realistic impressions.
D. All of the above.

[单项选择]At Christmas, most families will set up their Christmas trees in a _________ place of their home and decorate them with fancy ornaments.
A. prominent
B. dominant
C. outstanding
D. fantastic

[单项选择]According to the author, when some change in a product is necessary, a manufacturer will choose to ______.
A. lower the production cost
B. hire a better designer
C. improve its quality
D. alter its image

[单项选择]The chief editor thought he took some liberties with the original in translation. So it was necessary that he make the ______ suggested.
A. alterations
B. alternatives
C. alternations
D. altercations

[单项选择]Some families gather closer to each other at home than others because ______.
A. they have limited living space
B. they are brought up in a large family
C. it satisfies their psychological space needs
D. the children in the family sleep in the same bed with their parents

[单项选择]We are anxious to contact some Indian companies with a view （） business relations with them.
A. to build
B. to building
C. for building
D. building

[单项选择]When father suggested that we dine out for dinner, we ______ the nearby restaurant at once.
A. set off
B. made for
C. sent for
D. got to

[单项选择]When do some less developed countries allow tax-free investment reserves
A. When the economy of those countries is not doing well.
B. At a later stage for investment in those countries.
C. When an unfavorable depreciation in allowance is used.
D. When the property of the plant is written off at a lower rate in the later years.

[单项选择]There are some things in the class the teachers will not put up with.
A. tolerate
B. contribute
C. resist
D. prohibit

[单项选择]Tommy: Mommy, When will we have dinner I'm starving.Mother: ______. We have to wait for daddy.
A. Soon, honey
B. Quickly, honey
C. OK, honey
D. All right, honey